Water tank



Get, 7 1924. 1,510,716

H. R. STRAIGHT WATER TANK Filed June 9, 1920 I 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Unit. 7, 1924.

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W'ATEB TANI i.

Application filed June 9,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, Hanna STRAIGHT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Adel, in the county of Dallas, State of Iowa, have invented a Water Tank, of which the following is the specification.

The object of my invention is to provide a simple, durable and inexpensive stock watering tank so constructed that a minimum amount of heat will escape during cold weather, and to keep the water cool during the summer, and further, so constructet that the natural heat from the ground will keep the water warm.

Referring to the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is the side elevation of my improved tank.

Fig. 2 is a plan'view of the same.

Fig. 3 is a detail vertical sectional view taken on the line 33 of Fig. 2.

' Fig. 4 is a detail plan view of a segment of the base of my improved tank.

My improved tank is built by first cutting a circular or annular ditch, or trench, ot a diameter substantially equal to that of the outside diameter of the tank and about three feet deep or to a depth below the frost line. I then place a base course of vitrified hollow building blocks in the bottom of the trench arranged in a radial manner with their inner ends adjacent to form an annular foundation, as shown in Fig. 4: of the drawings. I then lay two tires of curved hollow blocks 11 and 12 on the top of said base course, each of said tiers being spaced apart, circular, and concentric with each other, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4. Each course of the tiers is laid in cement mortar and has rein forcing rods 13. The joints between the ends of the blocks are also laid in mortar. By this construction it will be seen that each tier or wall is provided with a series of tight air compartments which serve to provide insulation against heat radiation.

The tops of the walls 11 and 12 are of the same height and are provided with a cap course 14: formed of brick or building j amb blocks with. the outer end extending slightly over the outside edge of the wall 12. The blocks of the course 14: are of such a length that their inner ends terminate inside of the outer edge of the inside wall 11 so that a shoulder 15 is provided upon which a cover wall is designed to rest.

The cover is formed of hollow blocks laid loosely end to end in rows with the outer 1920. Serial 110. 327,7 6.

ends of said rows resting on the shoulder 15. This is done by first making afremovable platform level with the top of the walls 11 and 12, then placing semi-circular rows of brick 16 laid on ends in mortar, the end of the semi-circular rows resting on the shoulder 15. The rows of brick are for the purpose of forming openings, or holes, through the cover from which the stock may drink. 3

After the rows 16 have been placed, looselyarranged rows of blocks are laid on the platform with their ends nearly touching the inner edge of the cap course 14:. I have provided series of reinforcing wires 18 adjacent to the inner edge of the cap 14 and at a p'ointabout one inch from the. top of the shoulder 15. The whole top is then covered with a layer of cement 19. This willfiow between'the "ends and sides of the blocks 17 thereby forming a solid unitary cover having an air chamber 20' formed of hollow blocks 17. The cement is spread over the cap course as shown at 22 Fig. '3. The shoulder 15 in front of the opening is coveredwith an inclined course of cement 23.

i The bottom of the tank is formed by leveling the top of the ground inside of tlie'wall 11 and covering'it with a layer ofcement 24 which is carried up the inside of the wall 11 to form a water tight container. The forms for the cover may be taken out through the openings therein after the cement has hardened.

The tank may be filled by any ods now in use.

To prevent cold air from being blown through the tank above, the water, I have provided the semi-circular wall 25 beneath of the meththe row of brick 16. The bottom of this wall rests on a series of bricks 26 placed on edge and spaced apart to let the water pass under the wall 25 to a level with the Water Within the tank.

It will be noted by examining Fig. 3 that the walls 11 and 12 are spaced apart so that a continuous air space 27 is formed from the foundation course 10 to the cap course 14 i and that each of the walls 11 and 12 are pr0- slightly warm the top portion of the space 27. The dead air cells of the outer wall 12 have a tendency to retain the heat of the warm air within the space 27.

I am aware that some of the tanks have been built with a double wall having an air space but these do not extend below the ground level and for that reason the ground will freeze under the bottom of the tank causing it to be elevated and cracked. By my construction the ground below the bottom is kept warm enough so that it will not freeze even in the coldest weather. The foundation course is placed below the frost line and also acts as a drain and keeps the ground below the bottom of the tank dry.

The base course is laid without mortar so that a joint is left between each block for the purpose of preventing any water of con densation, or any slight leak that might be developed, from filling the air space 27, the water draining through the said joints into the ground below. The dead air space 20 in the cover helps to insulate it and to prevent the escape of heat from the water.

The cover is held against sagging at the center by reinforcing wires 18 which are mounted in a circular manner adjacent to the inner edge of the tier of blocks 14, and near the bottom of the cover portion. After the cover is set, the said cover will be united as a unitary member. Any tendency toward sagging will cause the lower outer edges of the cover to move outwardly, which is prevented by means of the reinforcing rods. This principle, however, is well known in the art of reinforced concrete constructions.

It will therefore be seen that I have provided a tank of simple, durable, and comparatively simple construction, especially adapted to contain water for stock. which will not leak, rot, or freeze, and will in the summer keep the water cool. The cover and walls 25 help to keep the water clean and from becoming impure.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. A stock watering tank comprising an annular foundation portion having a vertical wall formed of inner and outer members spaced apart, the upper endsof said walls being of substantially the same height, an annular cover member for the tops of said walls formed of a series of radially arranged bricks laid in cement, the outer ends of said bricks eiztending over the outer face of the outer wall member, while the inner end of said bricks terminates centrally above the top of said inner wall so as to form a shoulder, a cover resting on said shoulder formed of a series of hollow bricks laid in cement, said cover being provided with a drinking opening, the edge of said opening being provided with a series of vertically arranged bricks laid in cement to seal the end of the hollow tile, substantially as described and for the purposes stated.

2. A stock watering tank comprising an annular foundation portion mounted beneatli the frost line and formed of a series of radially and loosely arranged blocks of vitrified material, an inner and outer circular wall mounted on said base, each of said walls being spaced apart and formed of a series of hollow vitrified blocks arranged end to end in such. a manner that they form annular and horizontally arranged dead air spaces, the upper ends of the tops of said walls being of substantially the same height and extending above the ground surface. an annular cover member for the tops of said walls formed of a series of radially arranged bricks laid in cement, the outer ends of said bricks extending over the outer face f the said outer wall while the inner end of said bricks terminates centrally above the top of said inner wall so as to form a shoulder, a cover resting on said shoulder formed of a series of hollow blocks laid in cement, said covering being provided with a drink ing opening, the inner edge of said opening beii provided with a downwardly extend all to form a seal. the inner face of the inner wall above the ground surface being provided with a layer of water-proof material. said water-proof material being designed to cover the entire ground surface between the said inner wall to form a floor for said tank.

HALVER R. STRAIGHT. 

